In the world of fashion and accessories, gold-plated jewellery has carved out its own niche, offering an affordable option that exudes elegance and sophistication. But what exactly is gold-plated jewellery, and how does it compare to solid gold pieces in terms of value and longevity? In this blog post, we'll explore the intricacies of gold-plated jewellery, how it's made, its value, and the best practices for caring for your cherished pieces.

What is Gold-Plated Jewellery?

Gold-plated jewellery is crafted by applying a thin layer of real gold onto a base metal, such as brass, stainless steel or sterling silver. This layer of gold is typically measured in microns and is electroplated onto the base metal through a process called electroplating. The result is a piece of jewellery that resembles solid gold in appearance but is more affordable due to the smaller amount of gold used.

How is Gold-Plated Jewellery Made?

The process of making gold-plated jewellery involves several steps:

Preparation of the Base Metal: The base metal, usually brass or sterling silver, is cleaned and prepared for plating.
Electroplating: The prepared base metal is immersed in a solution containing dissolved gold ions. An electric current is passed through the solution, causing the gold ions to bond to the surface of the base metal.
Finishing: Once the desired thickness of the gold layer is achieved, the jewelry is removed from the solution, rinsed, and polished to enhance its shine and appearance.

Is Gold-Plated Jewellery Valuable?

Gold-plated jewellery contains only a tiny amount of gold, which is what makes it affordable. The thickness of the gold layer can differ across collections and so can the fineness (10K to 24K) of gold used. The purity of gold can affect the price tag and the colour it produces but has little effect on its value.

That said, gold pieces typically have a super thin layer of gold, so even if the karat is high, it won’t amount to much overall. It’s also difficult to restore and has a pretty insignificant profit margin for gold refineries so gold-plated jewellery should not be used as an investment or instrument for financial security.

Does Gold-Plated Jewellery Fade and Tarnish?

Gold-plated jewellery can fade and tarnish but this doesn’t happen to all of them. Jewellery pieces, like the ones produced by sasyaka,have a stainless steel base that prevents from fading or tarnishing.

With the exception of stainless steel, the molecules of the base metal, which is prone to oxidising and corroding, will move into the layer of gold over time. When that happens, some people will notice a significant change in the appearance of their gold-plated pieces while others might see mild degradation — maybe a flake or two here or there or minor corrosion.

The level at which the jewellery will fade and tarnish will depend on the thickness of the gold plating. The thinner the gold plating, the more susceptible it is to damage, and vice versa. Some jewellers avoid this damage by plating the base metal with nickel before covering it with the gold layer. Sasyaka maintains the look of its jewellery by using stainless steel. These methods keep the appearance of gold intact, making it less likely to tarnish and fade.

How to Care for Your Gold-Plated Jewellery?

Practicing proper care is key to extending the life of your gold-plated jewellery. To make the gold layer last longer, you can

• Keep your jewellery in a closed, dark place like in a soft pouch or box. Make sure to keep all your gold-plated jewellery pieces separate from each other to prevent rubbing, which can lead to flaking.
• Take off your jewellery while sleeping.
• Wash your hands before putting on or taking off your jewellery to ensure they’re free of dirt, makeup, and lotion.
• Wipe or clean your jewellery pieces with a mild liquid soap or cleaning solution frequently to rid them of pollutants.

If you notice that your jewellery piece has tarnished:

Get it replated to make it look brand new again.
With proper care, you can maintain gold-plated jewellery for up to five years. This entails following our recommendations above concerning proper storage and keeping your gold-plated jewellery away from elements that can affect the gold layer.